Business Briefs: Banks name new officers; Las Cruces dealership offers social media class

Western Heritage Bank names market president

EL PASO - Western Heritage Bank has announced that Brandy Darden has been promoted to Las Cruces Market President. She previously served as senior vice president for Las Cruces.

"We applaud Brandy on her promotion to president of our Las Cruces market," bank President and CEO Greg Cory said in a statement. "She has served the bank well, and we look forward to her continued leadership as we grow our business in the Las Cruces community."

Darden was a vice president at Century Bank in Las Cruces from 2011 to 2017, and prior to that she was an executive at State National Bank (now known as BBVA Compass). She had previously worked at Colonial Bank in Reno, Nevada.

Locally, Darden has volunteered with the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, the chamber's Heritage Foundation, the Las Cruces Public School Foundation, Memorial Medical Center, and the Hillbillies 4-H Club.

Western Heritage Bank is a New Mexico state bank and is a wholly owned subsidiary of New Mexico First Financial Inc. with locations in El Paso, Las Cruces and Deming.

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Ryan McGrath(Photo: Courtesy Wells Fargo)

Wells Fargo announces manager

EL PASO - Wells Fargo Business Banking announced on Thursday, Aug. 30 that Ryan McGrath is the new manager for the New Mexico and Texas/Mexico border markets.

In this role, McGrath will lead more than 80 team members responsible for serving the needs of Business Banking customers in the region. Based in El Paso, McGrath succeeds Bruce Beebe, who announced his retirement in March. McGrath reports to Dean Rennell, head of Wells Fargo Business Banking for the Southwest region.

"Since joining Wells Fargo more than a decade ago, Ryan has been a strong leader," said Rennell in a prepared statement. "After serving in multiple roles within Business Banking across the Southwest, Ryan has developed unique local market knowledge and extensive industry experience. Under his leadership, our regional Business Banking teams will continue to provide our customers with best-in-class service as we help them achieve their financial goals."

Serving businesses with annual sales generally from $5 million to $20 million, Business Banking provides a range of services, including credit, cash management, risk management, succession and wealth management.

Previously, McGrath was Business Banking Area Manager for the Mexico border and Southern New Mexico region. Throughout his career, McGrath has had roles within Business Banking in Texas, New Mexico and Utah. McGrath earned a bachelor of arts degree in accounting and a bachelor of arts degree in banking and finance from Mississippi State University.

Active in his community, he is a board member for The Borderplex Alliance and the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. McGrath has also served on Wells Fargo's Business Banking Diversity & Inclusion Council since 2016.

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Dealership offers social media class for businesses

LAS CRUCES - Vescovo Toyota is offering a free class to business owners who've been affected by construction in Las Cruces.

The class is geared around how to use social media and is slated for 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10 at Vescovo Toyota, 780 S. Valley Drive, Las Cruces.

Reclaim Wellness celebrates milestone

The business will celebrate the milestone Saturday, Sept. 8 with a special event at 1355 California Ave., Suite B, Las Cruces.

At 1 p.m. that day, a special celebration will feature site tours, event-only specials, a live stream on bOpIt Radio and a vendor exhibit with more than 20 vendors/sponsors.

Owner Melissa Brice called her business the "premier center for integrative healing for mind, body, and spirit."

Reclaim Wellness was founded by Brice with the vision on creating an environment for alternative and complementary healthcare practitioners to have an opportunity to practice as part of a collaborative team. Over the past two years, Reclaim Wellness has grown, moving to a larger location in March. Now, the team consists of eight practitioners who help clients "bridge the gap between modern medicine and alternative/complementary therapies," according to a news release.

"Reclaim Wellness is in the business of empowering clients to reclaim and transform the quality of their life through integrative wellness solutions that consider mind, body, and spirit," the news release states.

Listen live on bOpit Radio at www.bopitradio.com on the "Live & Local Channel" or download the bOpit app for Android or visit http://bopitradiosnm.libsyn.com/ to listen to the Reclaim Wellness Podcast to learn more.